President Donald Trump was rushed from the stage by US Secret Service agents after gunfire broke out during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington on Saturday night, in what he later described as an attempted assassination.
The dramatic security breach unfolded at the Washington Hilton, where Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, senior administration officials, journalists and hundreds of guests had gathered for the annual black-tie event. The dinner, one of Washington’s most high-profile social and political gatherings, was interrupted by chaos when an armed man reportedly forced his way through a security checkpoint outside the ballroom.
According to authorities, armed security personnel confronted the suspect as he moved past the checkpoint carrying multiple weapons. Gunfire was exchanged as officers attempted to stop him before he could reach the main event area.
Inside the ballroom, panic spread quickly as guests heard shots and realized the venue was under threat. Witnesses said people dived under tables while Secret Service teams rushed into action. Tactical officers with weapons drawn were seen taking positions near the stage where Trump had been seated moments earlier.
Cabinet members and other senior officials were evacuated first as security agents worked to secure the ballroom and surrounding areas. Trump was swiftly removed from the scene and later appeared at a hastily arranged press conference at the White House.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said a man armed with several weapons had charged through security before being stopped by Secret Service personnel. He praised the officers involved, describing them as brave and crediting them with preventing a potentially deadly attack.
Trump said investigators initially believed the suspect had acted alone. He also noted concerns about the security arrangements at the venue, suggesting the hotel was not an especially secure location for a presidential appearance.
The president said that when the disturbance began, he first assumed the sound was caused by a dropped serving tray before realizing it was gunfire.
Authorities said one Secret Service officer was struck at close range during the confrontation, but the round hit the officer’s protective vest. The injured officer was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and was later said to be in good spirits.
Washington police chief Jeffery Carroll told reporters that law enforcement personnel exchanged gunfire with the suspect before he was subdued and detained at the scene. He confirmed that the officer who was hit had been protected by body armor.
Investigators said the suspect appeared to have been a guest at the hotel. Police reported that he was carrying a shotgun, a handgun and knives at the time of the incident. He is expected to face firearm and assault charges when arraigned in court.
Trump later told reporters that authorities had moved quickly to search the suspect’s residence and said they believed he lived in California.
Later on Saturday night, FBI agents were seen outside a residence in Torrance, California, where local authorities cordoned off the area with police tape. Multiple US media outlets identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, a resident of Torrance in Los Angeles County.
The FBI did not publicly confirm the suspect’s identity at the time and said it had nothing further to add beyond statements already made during official briefings.
A LinkedIn profile carrying the name Cole Allen and showing a man resembling publicly circulated images of the suspect described him as a mechanical engineer, computer scientist, game developer and teacher.
The attempted attack triggered renewed concern about repeated security threats involving Trump. The president was previously targeted during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024, when a gunman opened fire, killing one audience member and grazing Trump’s ear.
Months later, another suspect was arrested after a Secret Service agent spotted the barrel of a rifle protruding from bushes near the perimeter of Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach while he was playing.
Saturday’s incident also revived memories of the Washington Hilton’s own place in presidential security history. The same hotel was the site of the 1981 assassination attempt on former President Ronald Reagan, who was shot outside the venue after delivering a speech.
The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner is traditionally one of the capital’s signature annual events, bringing together political leaders, journalists, celebrities and public figures. Often referred to as the “Nerd Prom,” the gathering raises funds for scholarships and journalism awards.
The dinner usually features a comedian who roasts the president and political establishment, while presidents traditionally respond with jokes of their own. No comedian had been booked for this year’s event.
Trump’s attendance itself was notable. Despite many presidents participating in the dinner over the past century, Trump had not attended the event while in office and has frequently criticized the media and the association that organizes it.
This year, however, the White House Correspondents’ Association extended an invitation, placing Trump at the centre of an event long associated with the relationship between presidents and the press.
The security breach occurred after opening remarks and during the dinner service, shortly before Trump was due to speak to attendees.
One administration official, Mehmet Oz, was heard telling journalists that shots had been fired as he was rushed out of the hotel by security officers.
Outside the venue, police quickly surrounded the building while helicopters circled overhead. Roads near the hotel were partially restricted as emergency teams responded and investigators began securing evidence.
Despite the incident, Trump said he intended to reschedule the dinner within a month, signaling that he did not want the event permanently derailed by the attack.
The attempted breach is likely to prompt fresh scrutiny of presidential security procedures, particularly how an armed suspect was able to get close enough to a major event attended by the president, senior officials and hundreds of guests.
Federal and local authorities are continuing their investigation into the suspect’s motives, planning and whether he had any assistance. For now, officials say the early evidence suggests he acted alone.
The incident left Washington shaken and cast a shadow over one of its most prominent annual gatherings, while once again underscoring the persistent security threats surrounding the presidency.
